diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index c749a8b40b024..1c8c56295a7a1 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -501,6 +501,7 @@ TASK_XFAILS := $(addprefix $(S)src/test/run-pass/, \
                  task-comm-12.rs \
                  task-comm-2.rs \
                  task-comm-9.rs \
+                 task-comm-chan-nil.rs \
                  task-life-0.rs \
                  alt-type-simple.rs \
                  many.rs)
diff --git a/src/Makefile b/src/Makefile
index 630babf33c619..45fa909c17b01 100644
--- a/src/Makefile
+++ b/src/Makefile
@@ -434,6 +434,7 @@ TASK_XFAILS := test/run-pass/task-comm-8.rs \
                test/run-pass/task-comm-12.rs \
                test/run-pass/task-comm-2.rs \
                test/run-pass/task-comm-9.rs \
+               test/run-pass/task-comm-chan-nil.rs \
                test/run-pass/task-life-0.rs \
                test/run-pass/alt-type-simple.rs \
                test/run-pass/many.rs
@@ -530,9 +531,6 @@ TEST_XFAILS_RUSTC := $(addprefix test/run-pass/, \
                         task-comm-15.rs \
                         task-comm-2.rs \
                         task-comm-3.rs \
-                        task-comm-4.rs \
-                        task-comm-5.rs \
-                        task-comm-6.rs \
                         task-comm-7.rs \
                         task-comm-8.rs \
                         task-comm-9.rs \
diff --git a/src/comp/middle/trans.rs b/src/comp/middle/trans.rs
index d4cd399228951..bc43185a7994a 100644
--- a/src/comp/middle/trans.rs
+++ b/src/comp/middle/trans.rs
@@ -339,6 +339,14 @@ fn T_box(TypeRef t) -> TypeRef {
     ret T_struct(vec(T_int(), t));
 }
 
+fn T_port(TypeRef t) -> TypeRef {
+    ret T_struct(vec(T_int())); // Refcount
+}
+
+fn T_chan(TypeRef t) -> TypeRef {
+    ret T_struct(vec(T_int())); // Refcount
+}
+
 fn T_crate(type_names tn) -> TypeRef {
     auto s = "crate";
     if (tn.name_has_type(s)) {
@@ -623,6 +631,12 @@ fn type_of_inner(@crate_ctxt cx, @ty.t t, bool boxed) -> TypeRef {
         case (ty.ty_vec(?mt)) {
             llty = T_ptr(T_vec(type_of_inner(cx, mt.ty, true)));
         }
+        case (ty.ty_port(?t)) {
+            llty = T_ptr(T_port(type_of_inner(cx, t, true)));
+        }
+        case (ty.ty_chan(?t)) {
+            llty = T_ptr(T_chan(type_of_inner(cx, t, true)));
+        }
         case (ty.ty_tup(?elts)) {
             let vec[TypeRef] tys = vec();
             for (ty.mt elt in elts) {
@@ -1609,6 +1623,28 @@ fn make_drop_glue(@block_ctxt cx, ValueRef v, @ty.t t) -> result {
                                         T_int(), C_int(0));
         }
 
+        case (ty.ty_port(_)) {
+            fn hit_zero(@block_ctxt cx, ValueRef v) -> result {
+                ret trans_upcall(cx, "upcall_del_port",
+                                 vec(vp2i(cx, v)));
+            }
+            ret decr_refcnt_and_if_zero(cx, v,
+                                        bind hit_zero(_, v),
+                                        "free port",
+                                        T_int(), C_int(0));
+        }
+
+        case (ty.ty_chan(_)) {
+            fn hit_zero(@block_ctxt cx, ValueRef v) -> result {
+                ret trans_upcall(cx, "upcall_del_chan",
+                                 vec(vp2i(cx, v)));
+            }
+            ret decr_refcnt_and_if_zero(cx, v,
+                                        bind hit_zero(_, v),
+                                        "free chan",
+                                        T_int(), C_int(0));
+        }
+
         case (ty.ty_obj(_)) {
             fn hit_zero(@block_ctxt cx, ValueRef v) -> result {
 
@@ -4496,6 +4532,22 @@ fn trans_expr(@block_ctxt cx, @ast.expr e) -> result {
             ret trans_be(cx, e);
         }
 
+        case (ast.expr_port(?ann)) {
+            ret trans_port(cx, ann);
+        }
+
+        case (ast.expr_chan(?e, ?ann)) {
+            ret trans_chan(cx, e, ann);
+        }
+
+        case (ast.expr_send(?lhs, ?rhs, ?ann)) {
+            ret trans_send(cx, lhs, rhs, ann);
+        }
+
+        case (ast.expr_recv(?lhs, ?rhs, ?ann)) {
+            ret trans_recv(cx, lhs, rhs, ann);
+        }
+
         // lval cases fall through to trans_lval and then
         // possibly load the result (if it's non-structural).
 
@@ -4667,6 +4719,116 @@ fn trans_be(@block_ctxt cx, @ast.expr e) -> result {
     ret trans_ret(cx, some(e));
 }
 
+fn trans_port(@block_ctxt cx, ast.ann ann) -> result {
+
+    auto t = node_ann_type(cx.fcx.ccx, ann);
+    auto unit_ty;
+    alt (t.struct) {
+        case (ty.ty_port(?t)) {
+            unit_ty = t;
+        }
+        case (_) {
+            cx.fcx.ccx.sess.bug("non-port type in trans_port");
+            fail;
+        }
+    }
+
+    auto llunit_ty = type_of(cx.fcx.ccx, unit_ty);
+
+    auto bcx = cx;
+    auto unit_sz = size_of(bcx, unit_ty);
+    bcx = unit_sz.bcx;
+    auto sub = trans_upcall(bcx, "upcall_new_port", vec(unit_sz.val));
+    bcx = sub.bcx;
+    auto llty = type_of(cx.fcx.ccx, t);
+    auto port_val = vi2p(bcx, sub.val, llty);
+    auto dropref = clean(bind drop_ty(_, port_val, t));
+    find_scope_cx(bcx).cleanups += vec(dropref);
+
+    ret res(bcx, port_val);
+}
+
+fn trans_chan(@block_ctxt cx, @ast.expr e, ast.ann ann) -> result {
+
+    auto bcx = cx;
+    auto prt = trans_expr(bcx, e);
+    bcx = prt.bcx;
+
+    auto prt_val = vp2i(bcx, prt.val);
+    auto sub = trans_upcall(bcx, "upcall_new_chan", vec(prt_val));
+    bcx = sub.bcx;
+
+    auto chan_ty = node_ann_type(bcx.fcx.ccx, ann);
+    auto chan_llty = type_of(bcx.fcx.ccx, chan_ty);
+    auto chan_val = vi2p(bcx, sub.val, chan_llty);
+    auto dropref = clean(bind drop_ty(_, chan_val, chan_ty));
+    find_scope_cx(bcx).cleanups += vec(dropref);
+
+    ret res(bcx, chan_val);
+}
+
+fn trans_send(@block_ctxt cx, @ast.expr lhs, @ast.expr rhs,
+              ast.ann ann) -> result {
+
+    auto bcx = cx;
+    auto chn = trans_expr(bcx, lhs);
+    bcx = chn.bcx;
+    auto data = trans_expr(bcx, rhs);
+    bcx = data.bcx;
+
+    auto chan_ty = node_ann_type(cx.fcx.ccx, ann);
+    auto unit_ty;
+    alt (chan_ty.struct) {
+        case (ty.ty_chan(?t)) {
+            unit_ty = t;
+        }
+        case (_) {
+            bcx.fcx.ccx.sess.bug("non-chan type in trans_send");
+            fail;
+        }
+    }
+
+    auto data_alloc = alloc_ty(bcx, unit_ty);
+    bcx = data_alloc.bcx;
+    auto data_tmp = copy_ty(bcx, INIT, data_alloc.val, data.val, unit_ty);
+    bcx = data_tmp.bcx;
+
+    find_scope_cx(bcx).cleanups +=
+        vec(clean(bind drop_ty(_, data_alloc.val, unit_ty)));
+
+    auto sub = trans_upcall(bcx, "upcall_send",
+                            vec(vp2i(bcx, chn.val),
+                                vp2i(bcx, data_alloc.val)));
+    bcx = sub.bcx;
+
+    ret res(bcx, chn.val);
+}
+
+fn trans_recv(@block_ctxt cx, @ast.expr lhs, @ast.expr rhs,
+              ast.ann ann) -> result {
+
+    auto bcx = cx;
+    auto data = trans_lval(bcx, lhs);
+    check (data.is_mem);
+    bcx = data.res.bcx;
+    auto prt = trans_expr(bcx, rhs);
+    bcx = prt.bcx;
+
+    auto sub = trans_upcall(bcx, "upcall_recv",
+                            vec(vp2i(bcx, data.res.val),
+                                vp2i(bcx, prt.val)));
+    bcx = sub.bcx;
+
+    auto unit_ty = node_ann_type(cx.fcx.ccx, ann);
+    auto data_load = load_scalar_or_boxed(bcx, data.res.val, unit_ty);
+    auto cp = copy_ty(bcx, DROP_EXISTING, data.res.val, data_load, unit_ty);
+    bcx = cp.bcx;
+
+    // TODO: Any cleanup need to be done here?
+
+    ret res(bcx, data.res.val);
+}
+
 fn init_local(@block_ctxt cx, @ast.local local) -> result {
 
     // Make a note to drop this slot on the way out.
diff --git a/src/comp/middle/ty.rs b/src/comp/middle/ty.rs
index 6eb3d8b53c125..72564078e4d6b 100644
--- a/src/comp/middle/ty.rs
+++ b/src/comp/middle/ty.rs
@@ -411,6 +411,8 @@ fn type_is_boxed(@t ty) -> bool {
         case (ty_str) { ret true; }
         case (ty_vec(_)) { ret true; }
         case (ty_box(_)) { ret true; }
+        case (ty_port(_)) { ret true; }
+        case (ty_chan(_)) { ret true; }
         case (_) { ret false; }
     }
     fail;
@@ -759,6 +761,10 @@ fn expr_ty(@ast.expr expr) -> @t {
         case (ast.expr_index(_, _, ?ann))     { ret ann_to_type(ann); }
         case (ast.expr_path(_, _, ?ann))      { ret ann_to_type(ann); }
         case (ast.expr_ext(_, _, _, _, ?ann)) { ret ann_to_type(ann); }
+        case (ast.expr_port(?ann))            { ret ann_to_type(ann); }
+        case (ast.expr_chan(_, ?ann))         { ret ann_to_type(ann); }
+        case (ast.expr_send(_, _, ?ann))      { ret ann_to_type(ann); }
+        case (ast.expr_recv(_, _, ?ann))      { ret ann_to_type(ann); }
 
         case (ast.expr_fail)                  { ret plain_ty(ty_nil); }
         case (ast.expr_log(_))                { ret plain_ty(ty_nil); }
diff --git a/src/test/run-pass/task-comm-16.rs b/src/test/run-pass/task-comm-16.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..a4944410f5841
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/run-pass/task-comm-16.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+// -*- rust -*-
+
+// Tests of ports and channels on various types
+
+impure fn test_rec() {
+  type r = rec(int val0, u8 val1, char val2);
+
+  let port[r] po = port();
+  let chan[r] ch = chan(po);
+  let r r0 = rec(val0 = 0, val1 = 1u8, val2 = '2');
+
+  ch <| r0;
+
+  let r r1;
+  r1 <- po;
+
+  check (r1.val0 == 0);
+  check (r1.val1 == 1u8);
+  check (r1.val2 == '2');
+}
+
+impure fn test_vec() {
+  let port[vec[int]] po = port();
+  let chan[vec[int]] ch = chan(po);
+  let vec[int] v0 = vec(0, 1, 2);
+
+  ch <| v0;
+
+  let vec[int] v1;
+  v1 <- po;
+
+  check (v1.(0) == 0);
+  check (v1.(1) == 1);
+  check (v1.(2) == 2);
+}
+
+impure fn test_str() {
+  let port[str] po = port();
+  let chan[str] ch = chan(po);
+  let str s0 = "test";
+
+  ch <| s0;
+
+  let str s1;
+  s1 <- po;
+
+  check (s1.(0) as u8 == 't' as u8);
+  check (s1.(1) as u8 == 'e' as u8);
+  check (s1.(2) as u8 == 's' as u8);
+  check (s1.(3) as u8 == 't' as u8);
+}
+
+impure fn test_tup() {
+  type t = tup(int, u8, char);
+
+  let port[t] po = port();
+  let chan[t] ch = chan(po);
+  let t t0 = tup(0, 1u8, '2');
+
+  ch <| t0;
+
+  let t t1;
+  t1 <- po;
+
+  check (t0._0 == 0);
+  check (t0._1 == 1u8);
+  check (t0._2 == '2');
+}
+
+impure fn test_tag() {
+  tag t {
+    tag1;
+    tag2(int);
+    tag3(int, u8, char);
+  }
+
+  let port[t] po = port();
+  let chan[t] ch = chan(po);
+
+  ch <| tag1;
+  ch <| tag2(10);
+  ch <| tag3(10, 11u8, 'A');
+
+  let t t1;
+
+  t1 <- po;
+  check (t1 == tag1);
+  t1 <- po;
+  check (t1 == tag2(10));
+  t1 <- po;
+  check (t1 == tag3(10, 11u8, 'A'));
+}
+
+impure fn test_chan() {
+  let port[chan[int]] po = port();
+  let chan[chan[int]] ch = chan(po);
+
+  let port[int] po0 = port();
+  let chan[int] ch0 = chan(po0);
+
+  ch <| ch0;
+
+  let chan[int] ch1;
+  ch1 <- po;
+
+  // Does the transmitted channel still work?
+  ch1 <| 10;
+
+  let int i;
+  i <- po0;
+
+  check (i == 10);
+}
+
+impure fn main() {
+  test_rec();
+  test_vec();
+  test_str();
+  test_tup();
+  test_tag();
+  test_chan();
+}
diff --git a/src/test/run-pass/task-comm-chan-nil.rs b/src/test/run-pass/task-comm-chan-nil.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..c8f5a90f59ecd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/run-pass/task-comm-chan-nil.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+// -*- rust -*-
+
+// rustboot can't transmit nils across channels because they don't have
+// any size, but rustc currently can because they do have size. Whether
+// or not this is desirable I don't know, but here's a regression test.
+
+impure fn main() {
+  let port[()] po = port();
+  let chan[()] ch = chan(po);
+
+  ch <| ();
+
+  let () n;
+  n <- po;
+
+  check (n == ());
+}